Hackensack, N.J. July 1, 2021 – Entrants from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) into its annual Design Excellence Awards (DEA) learned the results of the competition at an action-packed event on Wednesday evening, June 23 at the Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack. George Oliphant of TV’s “George to the Rescue” served as master of ceremonies and sprinkled stardust over the entire evening, bringing robust enthusiasm and an understanding of the challenges designers face to the rapt audience of interior designers, sponsors, industry partners and friends and family. The event also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the awards competition. Nineteen interior designers won a total of 29 prizes among them in 18 categories. Three students won awards as well.

Event sponsors included Sherwin-Williams, Design NJ and Benjamin Moore, who are Chapter Sponsors as well. Ferguson was the Exclusive Event Sponsor. Premier Sponsors included Fiberseal, J&S by Stark, PaintTec, Wayne Tile and Wostbrock Home. Select Sponsors included Exceptional Flooring, Michelangelo Designs, Scalamandré and Steve’s Custom Drapery Shoppe.

Designers could submit projects in residential and commercial / non-residential sectors. Winners spanned categories from Residential Single Space and Design for People With Specific Or Special Needs to Government / Institutional Space. New categories included Outdoor Living Space for residential and commercial sectors. A new Public Spaces category was added for students as well.

Judges were comprised of past award-winning ASID members from around the country and followed strict criteria in their judging. The criteria, which varied somewhat from category to category had one constant, however. Entrants in all the categories were judged on “Positive impact on life and the human experience.”

"Winning projects demonstrated purpose, integrity, creativity and how exceptional design affects the people that use these spaces,” said Terri Fiori, Allied ASID, and President of the New Jersey Chapter. “The NJ Design Excellence awards reinforce the ASID commitment to demonstrating how design impacts lives.”

The winners were as follows:


Residential Single Space:
Silver: Karen B. Wolf, Associate ASID, KBW Interiors, Short Hills
Bronze: Judy Sturdevant, Allied ASID, Freeman Hall Design, Westfield

Residential Small Bathroom, 55 Square Feet or Less:
Silver: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Inc., Montclair
Bronze: Tracey Stephens, Allied ASID, Tracey Stephens Interior
Design, Inc., Montclair

Residential Large Bathroom, 56 Square Feet or More:
Gold: Sharon Draznin, ASID, Sharon Draznin Interiors, Short Hills
Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Bronze: Sharon Sherman, ASID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff

Residential Small Kitchen, 150 Square Feet or Less:
Gold: Sharon L. Sherman, ASID, Thyme and Place Design, Wyckoff

Residential Large Kitchen, 151 Square Feet or More:
Bronze: Beth Insabella Walsh, ASID, Insabella Design, Little Silver

Commercial Spaces, 10,000 Square Feet or Less:
Bronze: Susan Barbieri, ASID, Susan Barbieri Interior Design, Hawthorne

Commercial Spaces, 10,000 Square Feet or More:
Silver: Beth Insabella Walsh, ASID, Insabella Design, Little Silver

Hospitality Space, Hotel, Restaurant, Clubs
Silver: Linda Kitson, Allied ASID, MarketPlace Designs, Summit

Design for People with Special Or Specific Needs
Bronze: Anna Maria Mannarino, Allied ASID, Mannarino Designs, Inc., Holmdel

Residential Outdoor Living Spaces
Bronze: Ivee Fromkin, Allied ASID, Ivee Fromkin Interiors, Monmouth Beach

Government / Institutional Space
Silver: Hong Jin, ASID, Netta Architects, Mountainside

Healthcare Spaces, 3,001 Square Feet or More
Sheila Rich, Allied ASID, Sheila Rich Interiors, Monmouth Beach

Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,500 Square Feet or Less
Silver: Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, Interior Decisions, Inc., Florham Park
Bronze: Elizabeth Akguc, Allied ASID, Agape Design Group, Franklin Lakes

Residential Two or More Spaces, 2,501 – 5,000 Square Feet
Silver: Karen B. Wolf, Associate ASID, KBW Interiors, Short Hills
Bronze: Diane Durocher, ASID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey

Residential Show House Space
Silver: Diane Durocher, ASID, Diane Durocher Interiors, Ramsey
Bronze: Karla Trincanello, Allied ASID, Interior Decisions, Inc., Florham Park

Specialty and Unique Spaces
Silver: Danielle Palmadessa, Allied ASID, DRP Interiors, Franklin Lakes
Bronze: Beth Insabella Walsh, ASID, Insabella Design, Little Silver

Residential Two or More Spaces, More Than 5,000 Square Feet
Silver: Zak Yossry, Allied ASID, Short Hills Design Studio, Millburn and Sharon Draznin, ASID, Sharon Draznin Interiors, Short Hills
Bronze: Sharon Draznin, ASID, Sharon Draznin Interiors, Short Hills

Retail/Showroom, Exhibit Space, Public Spaces, Athletic Facility
Gold: Kingsley Knauss, ASID, KBK Interior Design, Westfield
Bronze: Ria Gulian, ASID, Interiors By Ria, LLC, Long Branch

The student awards went to Alexandra Horn, Student ASID, of Kean University in the Commercial Space category. Nicole Sacco, Student ASID, of Kean University was Runner-Up in the category. Elizabeth Petitdemange, Student ASID, also of Kean University won the Public Space category.

About ASID
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) believes that design transforms lives. ASID serves the full range of the interior design profession and practice through the Society’s programs, networks, and advocacy. We thrive on the strength of cross-functional and interdisciplinary relationships among designers of all specialties, including workplace, healthcare, retail and hospitality, education, institutional, and residential. We lead interior designers in shared conversations around topics that matter: from evidence-based and humancentric design to social responsibility, well-being, and sustainability. We showcase the impact of design on the human experience and the value interior designers provide.

ASID was founded over 40 years ago when two organizations became one, but its legacy dates back to the early 1930s. As we celebrate nearly 85 years of industry leadership, we are leading the future of interior design, continuing to integrate the advantages of local connections with national reach, of small firms with big, and of the places we live with the places we work, play, and heal. Learn more at asid.org.